Mold for mandolin-shells.



No. 665,633. Patented Ian. 8, 190i. 6. A. FULLERTON.

MULD FUR MANDOLIN SHELLS.

(Application filed Sept. 17, 1900.)

2 Sheets--Sheat I.

(No Model.)

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MOLD FOB MANDOLIN SHELLS.

(Applicatjqn filed Sept. w, 1900.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ARTHUR FULLERTON, OF PEPPERELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

MOLD FOR MANDOLIN-SHELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,633, dated January8, 1901.

Application filed September 1'7, 1900- Serial No. 30,217. (No model.)

To all lob/017p 712'; may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE ARTHUR FUL- LERTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, resid-' ing at Pepperell, in the county of Middlesex and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented'a new and useful Mold forMandolin-Shells, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my new mold for mandolin-shells. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe mold shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the moldshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view of themold shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a crosssection of one of the members ofone of the clamps B B &c.

I-Ieretofore the mold or form for uniting ribs of wood edge to edge hasbeen a block, usually called a last, upon which the ribs of the shellwere placed by hand, first the middle rib and next two side ribs, andsecured by tape wound about the form and the three ribs, when the moldand the three ribs and the tape-winding were set aside until the glueuniting the ribs was set. The next step was to unwind the tape and applytwo more ribs and rewind the tape, and so on, until the shell wascompleted. The number of ribs varies from seven to thirty or more; but,practically speaking, about fifteen is the average of all styles. Incheaper shells the ribs are simply tacked to the block or inner form andset away for the glueto set; but this is objectionable because of themany tack-holes in each rib, which must be filled and concealed as faras possible.

In my mold the last or inner form A, while much as usual, is yetpreferably mainly a casting with a filling A of wood and a tackholdingblock of wood A The ribs d, glued along each edge, as usual, are rapidlyput in place on the form A, the neck end of each rib (1 being gaged andheld by the cap aand the other end of each rib being held by a singletack to the block A After the ribs dot the shell are thus applied thefollower-ribs d d are applied and held each by a tack to the block A andby the follower-wedges D, which are inserted loosely. Next the outerclamps are applied over the ribs 61 and the follower-ribs d d, and theoperator adjusts each of the clamps B B B &c., and the band-clamps B Band the follower-ribsd (1, so as to force each of the shell-ribs 01 intoits proper relation with the others and clamp the shell closely betweenthe inner form A and the outer clamps B B &c., and bring thefollower-ribs d (1 each into its proper place against the edges of theshell. This is done by adjusting the clamp-screws f and f to adjust theupper and lower ends of the side clamps B to B inclusive, and theclampscrew f of the band-clamps B B and at the same time setting up thewedges D of the follower-ribs. After a little practice the operatorreadily learns this adjustment and one man can apply the shell-ribs d,the followerribs d, and the outer clamps and make all the adjustmentswith such accuracy as to produce mandolin-shells equal in all respectsto any before made and of a uniformity of perfection not hithertoattained even by the most skilful workmen. After the glue is set theouter clamps are removed and the follower-ribs d d also removed and theshell taken off of theinner form and finished,as will be well understoodwithout description.

For convenience the clamps B B &c., are connected together by the bandsF F, which carry the clamps B B and also by a backbone F as shown in thedrawings. This makes it easier for the workman to handle the clamps andalso to bring each clamp to place ready for its accurate adjustment.

Each clamp B B &c., in cross-section is made concave, as shown in Fig.5, so that each contacts with the ribs only alongits edges, so as todistribute the pressure evenly at regular intervals throughout thelength of the ribs, which is a desirable feature.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A mold for uniting ribs to form ashell comprising an inner form, outer clamps, follower-ribs, and meansfor adjusting the outer clamps and follower-ribs,and thereby forcing theedges of the other ribs of the shell into their proper relations.

2. In a mold for uniting ribs to form a shell, the combination with theinner form of a cap for gaging and confining the ribs at one end of eachrib, substantially as described.

GEORGE ARTHUR FULLERTON.

Witnesses:

J. E. MAYNADIER, ARTHUR F. RANDALL.

